Umbrella construction



H. TIBONY UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTION May 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- Filed Nov. 5, 1947 HEN/ TIBONY A 7'TO/QNEY y 6,1958 H. TIBONY 2,833,297

UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1947 JNVENTOR.

HEN/Q Y 7750M) BY 6m 4 TTO/ZNEY UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTIQN 7 Henry Tibony, Staten Island, N. Y. Application November 5, 1947, Serial No.784,2ti5

11 Claims. (Cl. 135-25) This invention relates to umbrella constructions and more particularly to umbrella frames of improved compactly collapsible types Among the objects of the invention is to provide improved umbrella constructions of the character described which shall comprise few and simple parts forming a neat appearing structure which shall be light and sturdy yet of the compactly collapsible type which may have the rib frame portion of aluminum either stamped or rolled of the necessary resiliency to stretch the fabric cover when fully opened, which shall be rustproof and non-corrodible,

which shall have improved means for hinging and folding the ribs, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and lend itself to quantity production, which umbrella shall be capable of being quickly and readily opened, closed and arranged for convenient carrying when wet or dry, and which shall be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter disclosed.

In the accompanying drawing in which one embodiment of the invention is shown,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of an umbrella of the compactly collapsible type constructed to embody the invention showing the umbrella in fullopen position, a portion of the fabric cover and parts being broken away to expose the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is another fragmentary view of the umbrella shown in one of the closed carrying positions ready to be opened.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the umbrella with the ribs shown collapsed and folded prior to wrapping the fabric cover into a relatively small compact form.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional detail view of the handle end of the umbrella shown in Fig. 3 with the latch shown in locked position but with the wrist cord construction folded wholly within the handle knob.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the umbrella frame shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on lines 6-6 in Fig. 5 showing in detail the latch, telescoping and hinged construction.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 77 in Fig. 6, showing details of the telescoping construction.

Figs. 8 and 9 are cross sectional views taken on lines 8--8 and 9--9 in Fig. 6, showing details of the hinged construction.

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view showing an improved frame structure in a compactly collapsed position.

Figs. 11 and 12 are views showing opposite sides of an outstretched foldable n'b removed from the umbrella frame.

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 1313 Y States Patent in Fig. 12 showing the arcuate contour shape of thelrib structure, and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view of the spreaders removed from the umbrella frame.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 20 denotes a complete umbrella incorporating an improved umbrella frame 21 of the compactly collapsible type constructed to embody the invention. As shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6, and 10 said umbrella frame has a center stick or rod 22 formed of suitable tubular material, such as a lightweight metal like aluminum which is rustless. Said stick 22 is seen to comprise a pair of tubular telescoping sections 22a and 22b, stick section 22a forming the upper ortion and 22b the lower section, stick section 22b being slideably mounted to telescope within said upper section 22a as shown in'Fig. 10.

On the end of upper section 22a there is mounted against an abutment shoulder 220 a rib retainer 23, said upper section 22a terminating in a flared flange 22d which rigidly secures the rib retainer 23 against movement from its mounted position against the shoulder 22c. Slidably mounted on upper section 22a inwardly of said rib retainer or cage 23, is a runner member 24 which is limited in its sliding movement on upper section 22a by a stop 228, the latter being provided at a spaced distance from the rib-retainer 23 and may be pressed outwardly from upper section 22a, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. A suitable spring pressed latch 25 having depressible finger portion 25a is pivoted at 25b on the runner member 24 and there is provided a suitable opening 22 spaced a short distance below. the stop 22a so that when therunner member 24 is effective to retain the umbrella frame in open position, a toothed end 25c provided on the spring latch 25 engages in said opening 22 therebylocking the runner member 24 in the effective position shown. A similar opening 22g is provided adjacent the lower end of rod section 22a as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

There is also rigidly fitted into the lower end of the said rod section 22a, a liner 22h, said liner 22h being firmly retained in position in any suitable manner as for example by spaced key indentations 22 which are impressed in said lower end of said rod section 2211 and also through the liner 22h, asis shown in Fig. 7. Since the rod lower section 22b telescopes into the upper section 22a, the liner 22h is made of a length to serve as a substantial sleeve bearing as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The rod lower section 22b may terminate at its inner end by an outward flared flange 22k which is made so as to freely fitwithin the rod upper section 22a but is adapted to abut the inner end of .the liner 22h thereby limiting the telescoping movement and predetermining the fully extended position of the rod lower section 22b when fully extended. In assembling the rod lower section 22b into said upper section 2241, section 22b is inserted through the upper end of section 22a, as is clearly seen from Figs. 6 and 10.

For releasably retaining the two sections 22a and 22b in an extended locked position, there is provided a spring latch 26 which may be constructed as is clearly shown in Fig. 6, said latch .26 being held within the hollow of the rod lower section 2211 by a bent spring portion 26a which has a head 26b adapted to project through a slot 22m in the wall of said rod lower section 22b. The

26b for releasing the telescoping sections 22aand 22b for movement from their effective extended position shown in Fig. 6. While the runner member 24 is in position for retaining the frame 21 open and the spring latch 26 is effective for holding the sections 22a and 22b extended, all the parts are held rigid for use.

Extending longitudinally. along the outer surface of the rod lower section ZZbthere is provided a keyway or spline 22;: which cooperateswith the key indentations 22 and serves as a trackway in which said indentations 22 ride to prevent the relative rotation between the two rod sections 22a and 22b.

The rib retainer or cage 23 as shown in Figs. 6 and 9 is provided with a threaded body 23a formed with a radially extending fiange 23b having uniformly spaced peripheral rim portions 23c upstanding thereon. Adjacent rim portions23c serve as bearings for integrallyformed laterally extending ears 30a of a pivoted inner rib 30, said rib ears 30a being retained in position by a washer 35 which may be threaded on the rib retainer body 23a to abut the ends of said rim portions 230 thus forming an improved hinge or pivoting means which eliminates the weakness found in the conventional construction using a ring with a retaining wire strung through folded end of a frame rib.

The inner ribs 30 each connect with an outer extended rib 31 through a cradle piece or bracing strut 32, said I ribs 30 and 31 having the same cross sectional shape .as shown in Figs. 1-1,. l2and l3. 'Theshape of rib 30 preferably is shallow arcuate in cross-sectional contour and is formed with an upper concaved surface 3% and an under convex surface 300. The side edges of said rib 30 are rounded as at 30d so as to present smooth surfaces which contact the umbrella fabric or cover thus reducing wear to a minimum. In the assembled form, shown in Figs. 1, 10,11 and 12, said convex surface 300 extends longitudinally of the ribs 30. Outer extended ribs 31 each being made of the same cross sectional material as ribs 30 described above have a concaved surface 31b and convexed surface 31c, as shown in Figs 1 and 12.

The ribs 30 and 31 preferablyare made of a suitable 7 light metal, and when formed of aluminum strips or bars they are cold rolled and shaped to. the desired form, an end of rib 30 being cut or stamped with two symmetrical recesses 30f which shape the end of the rib 30 to provide the integral ears 3011 which are. trunnioned between adjacent rim portions 23c of the rib retainer 23 as shown in Fig. 9. t

To brace the frame rib structure, spreaders 33 are provided to pivot between ribs '30 and a spreader retainer or cage 34 carried by the runner member 24 There is also provided adjacent free or handle end of rod lower section 22b, the notch 22r for engaging with the latch-tooth 250 when the umbrella is in closed 'or collapsed position as is clearly shown in Fig. 10. Said free end of rod lower section 22b may be threaded, as at 22c], to receive a suitable handle 38 of any desired design.

Said spreader retainer or cage 34 may be similar in construction to and function like the rib retainer or cage 23 described above with respect to the provision of a radially extending flange 34b having uniformly spaced peripheral rim portions 34c'but downturned as shown in Fig. 6. Adjacent rim portions 340 serve as bearings for integrally formed T-shaped rib ends with laterally extending ears 33a provided on the spreaders 33. Said spreader ears 33a .are retained in position and confined by the spreader cage 34 in swinging movement against the upper surface 24b of the runner member 24 thus forming the improved hinged or pivoting means.

The spreader retainer or cage 34 is rigidly retained in place on said runner surface 24b by providing an outturned flange 24c extending up from surface 24b as shown in Fig. 6. Spreaders 33 may each be formed of the same stock strip material as said ribs 30 and 31, that is, with a shallow arcuate cross sectional contour and with symmetrical recesses 33f, and may have the end thereof opposite the ears 33a punched with an eyelet form of opening 33g.

A suitable staple piece 36 having a center yoke 36a may be provided to engage in said spreader eyelet opening 33g to form a hinged connection, said staple piece 36 being provided with spaced rivet projections 36b which are rigidly secured in suitable openings provided on inner rib 30 as is clear from Figs. 10, 11 and 12.

To assemble the staple piece 36, it is first inserted into spreader eyelet opening 33g with the center yoke 36:: located to engage therein, the projections 36b are then inserted in the spaced rib openings provided and then riveted over in the well understood manner. The hinged connection thus formed has been found to serve as an exceptionally ruggedswingable anchorage capable of withstanding rough and hard service.

Thecradle piece or bracing strut 32 preferably may be made of rustless metal, such as brass or coated steel as a U-shaped channel member having opposite midportion indented and extended to provide spaced hearings in the form of aligned openings 32a. The outer ribs 31 each has at one end a T-shaped structure forming earsfila similar in construction to and functioning like the ears Iatia of the inner rib 30, said ears 31a being journallcd in said aligned openings 32a of cradle strut 32. As shown in Figs. 10 and 12, each bracing strut 32 provides a connection between a rib and a rib 31'), the strut 32 being rigidly secured to the end 30g opposite ears 36a of rib 3t) by suitable means, as, for example, rivets 3d]. The hinged portion formed by the rib ears 31a swingably supported in strut openings 32a may be made with a slight oflset at 32c to align the rib 31 with rib 34) when said ribs are in extended position. A projection 31 extending beyond the. rib ears 31a is provided to minimize relative lateral displacement of the rib ends within the channeled bracing strut 32 on opening and closing the umbrella.

As seen in Fig. 10, the spreaders 33 are preferably mounted so that the concaved rib side 33c faces the convexed rib side 30c, and the concaved rib side 30b neatly nests against the convexed rib side 2310 forming a compact folded structure.

Secured to extend over the ribs 3d and 31 of the frame structure above described, there is provided a suitably shaped fabric cover 37 which is stretched on opening the umbrella as shown in Pig. 1. To secure the cover 37 in place it may be' tacked by spaced stitches 37a to each rib 39 and 3t. leaving the integral free end tip Silk uncovered, the central region of the cover 37 being fastened over the rib retainer thread body 23:; by a finial 41 screwed thereon. I

As shown in Fig. 4, handle 38 is mounted on the free threaded end 2241 of lower rod section 22, said handle 38 being recessed to provide a retaining flange 33a for receiving and releasibly confining either the free end rib tips 311': as shown in Fig. 2, or the projecting ends 32. of the cradle bracing strut 32 as shown in Fig. 3. A wrist strap 39 may be attached to said rod section end 2247 by suitable means suchas an anchor ring 40. The handle 33 may also he made hollow, as atZSb; with an open end 33c through which the strap 39 can be extended. Said hollow 33b can be of such size and dimensions as to serve as a receptacle for conveniently housing the strap 39 in a non-dangling position. when not needed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

After constructing and assembling umbrella as described above and shownin the drawings, the practical application of the invention will be apparent. With umbrella 20 fully open andready for use as shown in Fig. l, to close same, finger portion a of latch 25 on the runner member 24 is pressed to withdraw and disengage the toothed end 250 of latch 25 from rod opening 22 as is clear from Fig. 6. The runner member 24 is then slidingly moved along rod section 2211' until it is positioned to register said toothed end 25c with rod opening 2 2g. In this position of the runner member 2- 3, the convex side edge 26a of latch 26 is pressed inwardly releasing the rod lower section 22b for sliding within the section 22a onapplying aslight forceto the handle 38. On releasing the latch portion 2511, the latch toothed end 25c enters rod opening ZZg retaining the umbrella ribs in a closed position, andslidingly engages lower rod section 22b for the purpose hereinafter described. The ribs now although in a closed position can either be retained by the handle 33 in the extended position as shown in Fig. 2, or can be collapsed and then retained by said handle 38 as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to retain the ribs 39 and 31 in the extended position, as may be desired when the umbrella is wet. the tips 31]; are gathered about the rod and the handle 38 is pressed to slide the rod section 22b into section 22:: so that the flange 38a retains said tips as shown in Fig. 2. The handle 38 isheld in effective tip retaining position by the latch 25 which then engages a notch 22p provided in red section 22b. A slightpull on the handle 33 will disengage the latch toothed end 250 from the notch 22p to permit rod section 22b to be fully extended, thus freeing .the tips 31k from handle flange 38a when it is desired to open the umbrella;

To completely collapse the umbrella 20 into the most compact form, the rib tips 31k are released from the handle flange 38a and,ribs 3 l with the attached portions of cover fabric 37 are folded on the hinged means provided by rib ears 3.1 1 swingingly supported in strut openings 32a so that when the cover fabric 37 is folded, the projecting ends 32k v of the cradle bracing strut 32 are caused to be engaged in saidhandle recess by the retaining flange 38a. This is accomplished by telescoping rod section 22b into section 22a until the latch toothed end 25c enters and engages the notch 22y which is similar to notch 22p as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 10.

The umbrella 20 may now be rolled up into a compact body and inserted into a conventional tubular cover (not shown) in the well understood manner, and when the wrist strap 39 is wholly and completely housed in the hollow 38b of the handle 38, .all the dangling parts are eliminated.

To open the umbrella 20, the tubular cover '(not shown) if used, is removed. A slight pull exerted on handle 38 will then disengage the cradle projecting ends 32k as the latch toothed end 25c is forcibly released from notch g2r permitting the rod section 22b to be withdrawn from section 22d to the fully extended posi tion shown in Fig. 6-. The ribs31 can then be unfolded and the umbrella finally spread and cover fabric 37 stretched by sliding the released runner member 24 from the position shown in'Fig. 2 to that shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

v The above described improved latchconstruction engages the toothed end- 250 of spring latch 25 either in notches 22p or 22r with sufficient pressure to support the weight of the umbrella when suspended by the handle 38 or strap 39 without jamming yet will respond to a slight pressure exerted on the handle 38. This feature facilitates smooth operation in opening and spreading the umbrella 20.

Since the compact-lycollapsible type of umbrella Zil may be made small enough to carry in a handbag or the like, light weight construction is a desirable feature. To this end the larger parts, such as the ribs and 31 range of colors such as silvered,

and tubular sections 22a and 22b are preferably made of aluminum or other light weight metal while the other smaller parts may be made of brass which has been found suitable to form a satisfactory combination. The use of aluminum in umbrella 29 has reduced the weight about one-third of that of the conventional steel construction.

The shape and proportions of the ribs 30 and 31 may be made with a depth of the channel or concave portion 30b and 31b of less than the thickness of the ribs 39 and 31 which provide a comparatively light weight re silient structure.

Said use of aluminum rather than steel also lends itself to inexpensive commercial coloring of the frame in practically any color desired to blend with different colors and shades of the cover fabric and thus renders a more attractive and appealing article than heretofore was possible with steel which practically can haveonly a limited gilted or black enamelled.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an umbrella construction whereby the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, 1 and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a collapsible umbrella, a center stick comprising upper and lower rod sections arranged in telescopic sliding relation and having cooperating guide means to retain the same against relative rotative movement, a collapsible rib structure including spreaders, said rib structure being pivotally connected with the upper end of said upper rod section, a runner operatively connected with said spreaders and slidingly mounted on said upper rod section, a handle member ailixed to the free end of said lower rod section, said handle member having means to engage and hold portions of said rib structure when the latter occupies a plurality of collapsed positions, a latching means carried by saidrunner, said upper rod section having upper and lower slots, said lower rod section having upper and lower notches, said upper slot being positioned to engage said latch means for retaining the spreaders in the open position, said notches being so constructed and arranged as to engage said latch means through said lower slot when said rod sections are relatively disposed in extended position with the rib structure closed to engage the handle member means in holding relation to the ribs, and when said rod sections are disposed in telescoped position with the rib structure closed to engage said handle member means when the rib structure occupies the collapsed position.

2. In an umbrella construction of the character described having a center stick comprising upper and lower hollow rod sections in telescopic sliding relation and having cooperative guide means to retain the same against relative rotative movement, the combination of a runner slidably-mounted on said upper rod section adapted to be positioned at a lower end thereof when the umbrella is closed, said runner having latching means including a tooth portion, said upper rod section having a slot adjacent said lower end for registering with said latching means when the runner is in said closed position to permit passage of said tooth portion into the hollow of said upper rod section, said lower rod section having upper and lower notches so constructed and arranged to selectively engage said tooth portion to retain said lower rod to both an extended and a telescoped position.

3. In an umbrella frame construction having a center stick, a coll'apsiblerib structure comprising a plurality of claim as new inner ribs each pivoted at one end to said center stick and having a channeled bracing strut rigidly mounted, on the other end thereof, said bracing strut having opposite midportions thereof indented, said indented 'midportions I being extended to provide spaced bearings having aligned openings, and a plurality of outer ribs each terminating in an integral T-shaped portion forming ears pivoting in said bearing openings, said T-shaped portion having a longitudinal projection beyond said ears to cooperate with said indented midportions for minimizing relative lateral displacement of the rib ends within said channeled bracing strut when opening and closing the umbrella.

4. in an umbrella frame construction having a center stick, wherein a runner member is slidably mounted on said stick, and a plurality of spreaders are each pivoted at one end to said runner and each has an opening adjacent to the other end thereof, and a plurality of ribs are pivotally mounted on said center stick beyond the runner; the combination of a staple piece secured to a midportion of each rib, said staple piece having a center yoke,

each of said spreaders and ribs being formed of light weight metal having substantially a uniform cross-sectional contour and thickness throughout, said cross-sectional contour being arcuate-shaped having a minimum concave depth of less than the thickness of the rib, said staple piece having a center yoke extending through said spreader opening for pivotally connecting said spreader end to the rib Inidportion.

6. In the combination defined in claim 4, said runner member carrying a spreader retainer having a radially extending flange forming a cage having uniformly spaced rim portions defining bearings, and each spreader having an integrally formed T-shaped end, the end being pivotally received in said bearing, said spreader retainer being mounted to confine each of said T-shaped spreader ends in pivoting position against said runner. I

7. The umbrella construction defined in claim 3, said inner and outer ribs being made of light weight metal having substantially the same cross-sectional contour throughout, said cross-sectional contour being arcuateshaped of relatively uniform thickness with a maximum concave depth of arcuate-shaped contour of less than the thickness of the rib to permit resilient flexing when the umbrella construction is opened.

8. In umbrella structure, a collapsible stick structure, a collapsible rib structure, a runner for movement relatively to the collapsible stick structure for distending and collapsing the rib structure, and single means carried by the runner and means provided by the stick structure for retaining therib structuredistended to stretch the umbrella fabric, for retaining the ribs and fabric closed but not completely collapsed when thestick structure is not collapsed, and for retaining the stick structure collapsed with the umbrella fabric and the rib structure collapsed 9. In umbrella structure, a collapsible stick structure, a collapsible rib structure including a rib formed from a narrow strip of thin metal having a shallow concavity in its transverse cross-section, a runner for movement relatively to the collapsible stick structure for distending and collapsing the rib structure, one end of the rib having means for pivotal attachment to the runner, the pivotal attachment means including a pair of notches in the side edges of the strip spaced from the tip of. the strip, the runner including a ring having an upwardly turned edge,

the edge being spaced outwardly to provide a groove and having a pluralityof slots, the slots being dimensioned to receive the necks and the groove the unnotched portions of the strip beyond the slots, means for retaining the rib ends inthe groove and the slots to permit limited pivotal movement of the ribs with relation to the runner, and single means carried by the runner and means provided by the stick structure for retaining the rib structure distended to stretch the umbrella fabric, for retaining the ribs and fabric closed but not completely collapsed when the stick structure is not collapsed, and for retaining the stick structure collapsed with the umbrella fabric and the rib structure collapsed.

10. In an umbrella frame construction having a center stick, a rib retainer rigidly mounted on said stick and having a threaded body, the retainer being formed with a radially extending flange having a plurality of fingers extending radially and in substantially the same plane and forming gaps therebetween, the fingers being bent upwardly and having their ends extending toward each other, a plurality of ribs of substantially uniform width, each rib having notches adjacent one end thereof, the rib being seated on the retainer with notches received between the ends of the fingers extending toward each other, and a retaining means threaded on said body and abutting said fingers to retain the rib ends in pivoting position.

11. A collapsible umbrella construction, comprising a center stick, the center stick comprising a stick section having ribs pivotally mounted thereon, a stick section telescopically assembled with the rib-pivoting section, a runner on the center stick, the runner having spreaders for distending the pivotally mounted ribs, the ribs and spreaders being constructed to be collapsed to two diiferent degrees of collapse, latching means carried by the runner, the latching means including a spring-biased tooth, cooperative means on the sections to. prevent rotation while permitting telescopic movement of the sections with relation to each other, said rib pivoting section having openings adjacent its ends for receiving said tooth, the telescopically assembled section having notches adjacent its ends, the notches on the telescopically assembled section being constructed and arranged to be engaged by the tooth extended through one of said openings to retain the ribs and spreaders closed when the umbrella is in one of the degrees of collapse and the sections are in either of a pair of telescoped positions, one of the notches being constructed and arranged separately to be engaged by the tooth to retain the umbrella in the other degree of collapse, and one of the openings being constructed and arranged to be engaged by the toothto retain the ribs and spreaders distended.

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